1.1        DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY

1.1.1     In October 2001, Urbis Limited was commissioned by Planning Department to conduct the Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong. Urbis is supported by ERM Hong Kong Limited, Stephen Brown Landscape Architecture and EcoSchemes Asia Limited.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1.2     Landscape is a vital part of our environment and is one of the most important components of our quality of life. In the broadest sense, it commonly refers to the appearance of the land cover, but also includes such components as its shapes, textures and colours, and reflects the way in which these various components combine to create specific patterns and pictures that are distinctive to particular localities.  It encompasses the whole of the natural and man-made environment, 
urban and rural. The patterns and textures of buildings, streets, open spaces and trees, and their interrelationships within the built environment are each important parts of our wider landscape heritage.

1.1.3     Hong Kong has extensive undeveloped tracts of natural landscapes with different landscape character. Some of these areas contain a diverse habitat supporting numerous native plant species and a varied wildlife, both resident and migratory. In addition, there is a long history of human settlement and a variety of cultural relics associated with the settlement.

1.1.4     In many countries, especially in Europe, comprehensive landscape assessments often form part of the land use planning process. In the United Kingdom, for example, landscape character maps have been prepared at national, regional, country and local levels.  In Hong Kong, no comprehensive landscape assessment for the whole territory has ever been undertaken.

1.1.5     The Metroplan Landscape Strategy for the Urban Fringe and Coastal Areas, which was published in 1989, was an early attempt to look into the landscape character of the Metropolitan urban fringe and coastal areas, and provide a framework for its conservation and enhancement. With the rapid pace of development in Hong Kong, the strategy needs to be reviewed and updated.

1.1.6     Area specific and project based landscape assessments have also, from time to time, been undertaken, mainly in connection with individual studies (such as the sub-regional planning studies) or projects (such as the landscape and visual impact assessments submitted under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)). While those assessments can provide useful background information, they are generally conducted for a specific purpose and at a local scale and thus, not territory-wide comprehensive in nature.

NEED FOR THE STUDY

1.1.7     With an increasing emphasis on sustainable development, there is a need to integrate consideration of economic, social and environmental issues into the planning and development process. To assist such process, the Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century (SUSDEV21) has developed indicators for measurement of the development impact of projects.

1.1.8     In the absence of comprehensive information on the existing conditions of landscape resources in Hong Kong, the SUSDEV21 study has not yet established an indicator against which the landscape baseline conditions can be monitored. This Study is carried out to fill this information gap.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

1.1.9     The main Study objective is to establish the essential landscape baseline information that will provide a systematic reference framework to facilitate landscape assessment and broad environmental assessment of major projects at a territorial level.

1.1.10    More specifically, the Study objectives are:

1. Fill the gap of the existing information and aggregate all available information for a better understanding of the landscape resources in Hong Kong, both in terms of quality and quantity;

2. Establish the baseline conditions of the existing landscape resources, both in the urban and rural areas, as a benchmark against which future changes can be assessed;

3. Establish a systematic classification system of landscape resources and identify specific landscape character types and areas for production of a landscape character map;

4. Establish consistent evaluative criteria which will allow measurement and evaluation of the sensitivity and importance of landscape character types and areas; and

5. Recommend a suitable indicator for broad landscape impact assessment of major development projects which can be incorporated in the sustainability evaluation process.

STUDY AREA

1.1.11   The Study area covers the urban and rural landscape of the whole Hong Kong SAR.

STUDY PROGRAMME

1.1.12   The Study commenced in October 2001 and will take 18 months to complete, excluding the time required for the two stages of public consultation. The timing and content of key Study deliverables is presented in Table 1.1 below. 

1.2        PURPOSE OF TECHNICAL REPORT NO.3

1.2.1     TR3 reports the findings of Task 5 of the Study. Task 5 covers a number of items, including:

• Review of initial landscape classification and evaluation criteria;

• Analysis of landscape features;

• Establishment of a database of background information;

• Preparation of a draft pattern of LCT and LCA to be verified at field survey stage and

• Field survey proposal.

1.2.2     The key products of this phase of the Study are:

• A Preliminary Landscape Character Map - this will be used to guide field surveyors during Task 6 and Task 7 - Pilot Survey and Field Survey.

• A preliminary database structure - this will form the basis of work to be carried out under Task 8 - Data Analysis and Task 9 - Draft Landscape Character Map.

1.3        STRUCTURE OF TECHNICAL REPORT NO.2

1.3.1     Chapter 2 provides a review of the Initial landscape classification system established as part of TR1. The classification system is reviewed in the light of comments received during the First Stage Public Consultation and changes found necessary during the preparation of the Preliminary Landscape Character Map (PLCM).

1.3.2     Chapter 3 provides a review of the Initial Evaluation Criteria, established as part of TR2. The evaluation criteria are reviewed in the light of comments received during the First Stage Public Consultation and comments made by Government on TR2.

1.3.3     Chapter 4 sets out the Desk Top Scoping Exercise carried out as part of TR3. It includes a review of sources of information on existing landscape and review of sources of information on planned and committed development.

1.3.4     Chapter 5 describes the process by which the Preliminary Landscape Character Map was prepared and presents the Map itself.

1.3.5     Chapter 6 provides a proposal for field survey, including a review of local and overseas experience in field survey; a description of the proposed filled survey process, instrumentation and logistics.